Contributor: Eric Roper
Eric Roper (eroper@gwhatchet.com), The Hatchet's editor in chief.
Posts by this contributor:
May 1, 2008, 10:41 am
Posted by Eric Roper
Anyone on G Street between 10:30 a.m. and noon today probably noticed that there was a group of cement trucks lined up and Metropolitan Police Department Officers on scene. The trucks were traveling to the construction site of the new residence hall. An officer said they had responded because the trucks were leaking wet cement on the street all the way from Maine Avenue. A faint line of cement was apparent down G Street and on 20th Street.
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Tags: construction, mpd
April 29, 2008, 1:08 pm
Posted by Eric Roper
Last April we reported that the former dean of the Columbian College, William Frawley, was arrested twice in two days for driving under the influence. Frawley had left GW in 2006 to become president of the University of Mary Washington, a Virginia public school about an hour south of the District. The school’s Board of Visitors fired him soon after the arrests were made public.
Now the Free Lance-Star is reporting that Frawley was arrested again for driving under the influence, this time in Maryland. His arrest there on April 10 is exactly a year to the day after last year’s incident, they reported.
The first case originally received a lot of press attention because Frawley was seen driving recklessly without a front tire, and police followed his vehicle into the driveway of the UMW president’s house. He wrote an account of the incident (and the ensuing coverage) this December in the Washington Post with the headline “I Needed Help, Not Ostracism.”
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Tags: Frawley, University of Mary Washington
April 24, 2008, 11:35 pm
Posted by Eric Roper
We reported several weeks ago that Sodexho will allow some mandatory J Street funds to be carried over from year to year. That article also touched on some possible venue changes discussed with campus leaders at a meeting in the Hippodrome.
Though announcements about dining changes are often released during the summer, details about next year should become public by next week. Executive Vice President and Treasurer Lou Katz said the University has been pushing the food service provider to finalize everything before the end of the academic year. A public meeting about the 2008-2009 dining lineup is scheduled for May 1, he said.
In addition to consulting student and University leaders, Sodexho issued an e-mail survey last month that yielded more than 2,000 responses. One of the most likely additions to the venue is a kosher dining option.
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Tags: J Street, Student Association
April 15, 2008, 9:37 pm
Posted by Eric Roper
Anyone interested in catching a glimpse of the Pope tomorrow can see him as he travels to the White House between about 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. As you can see from a map of the route (below), he will be traveling from the Naval Observatory to Foggy Bottom, mostly via Pennsylvania Avenue.
There are already barricades around Pennsylvania Avenue and this afternoon there were newscasters standing around the area talking about the Pope’s visit. It is probably advisable to arrive early, given the amount of District residents and tourists in town for this event.
And if you’re not sure what to look for, the popemobile is pretty unique.
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Tags: Pope
April 8, 2008, 4:57 pm
Posted by Eric Roper
A senior administrator told The Hatchet this afternoon that the University will begin using Google Mail as their student e-mail client beginning next fall. The Hatchet previously reported on this issue (just about every year, in fact), and most recently reported in January that the quota was set to expand.
Executive Vice President and Treasurer Lou Katz said they have not finalized the contract with Google, and are still working on logistics. “We’re moving towards getting this done,” he said. Katz also said the quota would likely be equivalent to Google’s standard amount. Students had complained in the past because the current system — CMail — only offers 20 megabytes of storage.
The new client will only apply to students, however. Faculty and staff will continue to use CMail.
See The Hatchet on Thursday for the full article.
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Tags: E-mail, Google
March 31, 2008, 10:41 pm
Posted by Eric Roper
The work on Thurston Hall from last summer is not over. The city recently approved a $3.5 million permit to continue “masonry restoration and window replacement.” Executive Vice President and Treasurer Lou Katz said this is within the initial $13.8 million budget for the project — originally listed in the University’s capital budget.
This construction, which will primarily occur over the summer, will focus on putting new windows on the back side of the building. Previously they replaced the sprinkler system and elevators, in addition to window work. “You cannot be in the rooms while they are doing the window work,” Katz said.
The building was closed last summer during Colonial Inauguration to accommodate the renovation, and Katz said it likely would be again this summer.
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Tags: Thurston Hall
March 25, 2008, 12:47 pm
Posted by Eric Roper
The University confirmed this afternoon that CVS Pharmacy has signed the lease for a
new location in 2000 Penn. We previously reported that CVS was one of several partners interested in the location — formerly occupied by Tower Records — on 21st and H streets.
There are currently at least four CVS locations within a four block radius of campus. One located on E Street recently extended its hours and is now open 24 hours a day.
Tracy Schario, a University spokesperson, said the commercial nature of 2000 Penn will attract a wide range of customers. “I think you have to look at the context of that particular space,” Schario said. “It’s in an office building, and while its in a GW-owned building and in a campus environment, it’s a heavy mix of business customers first and students second.”
See Thursday’s paper for the full story.
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March 25, 2008, 12:27 am
Posted by Eric Roper
A controversy currently surrounding Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign stemmed from remarks the senator made in the Marvin Center last week (Slide Show). Clinton said at the speech that she arrived in Bosnia in 1996 amid chaos and gunfire.
“I remember landing under sniper fire,” Clinton said. “There was supposed to be some kind of a greeting ceremony at the airport, but instead we just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base.”
But video of the incident aired afterwards by CBS News showed a much different scene. Clinton told the Philadelphia Daily News editorial board Monday that she “misspoke.” Hundreds of news outlets are picking up the story, many quoting other people on the trip who say they do not remember any sniper fire.
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Tags: 2008 Presidential Campaign, Hillary Clinton
March 21, 2008, 9:07 pm
Posted by Eric Roper

Post by Tim Gowa
Update, 11:02p.m: A “very cluttered apartment and a bunch of debris” caught fire on the 9th floor of Columbia Plaza on Friday evening, causing a massive flurry of activity on Virginia Avenue between 23rd and 25th streets.
Firefighters from Foggy Bottom’s Engine Company 23 were first on the scene and extinguished the flames without any injuries within 10 minutes, according to D.C. fire officer Richard Sterne.
About 30 residents milled outside, as a dozen D.C. fire engines stretched hose lines across the street towards The Diplomat building. Despite the dramatic response, the building was re-opened just before 10 p.m., with the exception of the 9th floor.
Fire Department Spokesperson Alan Etter said in an e-mail they are still determining the extent of the damage. The cause of the fire is also still unknown.
Stay with the Hatchet for more details.
- David Ceasar and Eric Roper contributed to this report.
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Tags: columbia plaza, Fire
March 19, 2008, 3:01 pm
Posted by Eric Roper
You may have seen our article last week about how thefts from automobiles are increasing in the District, including in Foggy Bottom. It’s certainly a problem that’s being addressed across the city, especially in the Second District police area. Just last night, 10 cars were burglarized on the same block of New Mexico Avenue just north of Georgetown, according to a crime summary released this morning from the Metropolitan Police Department. Some of the items stolen include a CD player, 800 CDs, a satellite radio, eyeglasses, a t-shirt, a backpack, tools, etc. It has become one of the most common crimes in the Northwest.
Police in the area are trying to tackle the problem using bait cars (which can be turned off remotely), and tracking stolen GPS systems. The crime can best be prevented if residents hide their expensive items before leaving the vehicle, local police luitenant Phillip Lanciano said in our article last week.
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Tags: Crime, mpd